Gary C. Twombley
Seattle,WA
Summary
With over 25 years at Mercer Island School District, I've excelled in curriculum development and teaching writing, enhancing student engagement through innovative, project-based learning. As an award-winning Journalism Teacher and English Department Chair, I've significantly contributed to student success and curriculum innovation, showcasing my ability to blend critical thinking with effective communication skills.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
1
1
Certificate
Work History
English Teacher
Mercer Island School District
08.1998 - Current
- Taught English Language and Literature to K-12 students.
- Over 15 years experience teaching in an interdisciplinary "block" system.
- Served two three-year terms as English Department Chair.
- Sat on several District curriculum committees, including materials adoption, assessment practices, DEI, and inclusion practices.
- Mentored new and student teachers within the department, sharing best practices and offering guidance on effective teaching methods.
- Developed a rich curriculum that honored the needs of a diverse student body.
- Served as advisor for several student-run clubs, including Poetry Club and Amnesty international.
Journalism Teacher
Mercer Island School District
08.1997 - Current
- Taught both Beginning an Advanced Journalism to grade 9-12 students.
- Developed and implemented a comprehensive curriculum, covering essential journalism topics such as ethics, reporting techniques, and news writing styles.
- Promoted critical thinking skills by challenging students to analyze current events and evaluate sources for credibility and bias.
- Assessed student progress through regular evaluations, ensuring continuous improvement in journalistic abilities.
- Taught advanced production techniques for both online and print publications, using Adobe Suite.
- Created an award-winning, nationally- and regionally-recognized print and online publication.
- Served as the Washington Journalism Education Association (WJEA) Board President from 2022-2024.
- Won WJEA Advisor of the Year in 2020.
- Received Fern Valentine Free Speech Award in 2020.
Summer Youth Extenstion Instructor
University Of Washington, Seattle
06.2006 - 06.2009
- Taught screenwriting skills to high-school aged students.
- Developed a flexible project-based curriculum to meet the goals and needs of a diverse group of students.
- Aligned curriculum with English CORE standards for Grades 9-12.
- Provided extensive feedback on student screenplays from ideation to completion.
Substitute Teacher, K-12
Mercer Island School District
02.1997 - 06.1998
- Worked as a short- and long-term substitute teacher in Grades 6-12.
- Took over class for regular classroom teacher, managing assignments, student needs, and recordkeeping.
- Repeatedly requested as substitute teacher by teachers based on excellent past referrals and trusted performance.
Grant Writer
Puyallup Tribe of Indians
03.1997 - 05.1998
- Served as head grant writer for program development and student outreach at a federal-recognized tribal college.
- Researched grant and funding proposal opportunities in philanthropic databases to identify potential income sources.
- Secured funding for the tribal college by researching and writing grant proposals for critical projects.
Educational Content Editor
EdVantage Software, Inc.
03.1995 - 01.1997
- Served as a content editor for an educational software company.
- Oversaw multiple language arts projects from ideation to classroom implementation.
- Oversaw editorial calendars and content schedules.
- Interfaced with industry and content experts to improve the quality of products.
- Worked with local teachers and students to optimize the effectiveness of company products.
Translator/Interpreter
American Hemp Mercantile
01.1994 - 01.1997
- Served as a translator and interpreter for a Seattle-based company importing hemp fabric and twine from Hungary.
- Managed company's daily communications with Hungarian suppliers.
- Provided real-time interpretation services during phone conferences, site visits to suppliers, and business trips to Hungary.
- Managed multiple import projects while simultaneously interfacing with multiple suppliers.
English and Grant Writing Instructor
United States Peace Corps
06.1990 - 06.1993
- Taught English as a Foreign language to Grade 9-12 college-bound students in Miskolc, Hungary.
- Provided opportunities for Hungarian English teachers and students to converse with a native speaker.
- Worked with local NGOs on grant writing skills to increase their access to money needed for critical infrastructure and environmental projects.
- Increased student speaking and writing proficiency by implementing targeted instructional strategies and providing individualized feedback.
- Enhanced student engagement by utilizing multimedia resources, such as videos and online articles, to supplement traditional teaching methods.
- Created several English-language enrichment camps, including a summer sports camp and a world-knowledge quiz bowl.
Education
Master of Arts - English/Teaching Writing
Humboldt State University
Arcata, CA05-1997
Teaching Certification - Secondary Language Arts
Humboldt State University
Arcata, CA06-1995
Bachelor of Arts - English
California State University, Fullerton
Fullerton, CA05-1989
Skills
- Teaching writing and critical thinking
- Curriculum development
- Student Engagement and Support
- Student-Centered Learning
- Project-based learning
Accomplishments
- Mercer Island School District Teacher of the Year, 2004
- National Coach of the Year, U.S. Youth Soccer, 2014
- Washington Journalism Education Association's Adviser of the Year, 2020
- Awarded the Fern Valentine free speech award for supporting student First Amendment rights, 2020
Certification
- Washington state continuing credential, English; grades 4-12
- California Clear credential, English; grades 4-12 (Expired)
Languages
Spanish
Limited Working
Hungarian
Professional Working
Timeline
Summer Youth Extenstion Instructor
University Of Washington, Seattle
06.2006 - 06.2009
English Teacher
Mercer Island School District
08.1998 - Current
Journalism Teacher
Mercer Island School District
08.1997 - Current
Grant Writer
Puyallup Tribe of Indians
03.1997 - 05.1998
Substitute Teacher, K-12
Mercer Island School District
02.1997 - 06.1998
Educational Content Editor
EdVantage Software, Inc.
03.1995 - 01.1997
Translator/Interpreter
American Hemp Mercantile
01.1994 - 01.1997
English and Grant Writing Instructor
United States Peace Corps
06.1990 - 06.1993
- Washington state continuing credential, English; grades 4-12
- California Clear credential, English; grades 4-12 (Expired)
Master of Arts - English/Teaching Writing
Humboldt State University
Teaching Certification - Secondary Language Arts
Humboldt State University
Bachelor of Arts - English
California State University, Fullerton
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